Mobile spar yarder



Nov. 16, 1954 J. M. MEANY MOBILE SPAR YARDER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 2 1951 z/ENTUR J. M. MEANY 47 TTUF NE W Nov. 16, 1954 .1. M. MEANY MOBILE SPAR YARDER Filed Jan. 2 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 nlu.

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MOBILE SPAR YARDER Filed Jan. 2, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 rra /vis Nov. 16, 1954 J. M. MEANY MOBILE SPAR YARDER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 2 1951 //\/Z/EN TUE J. M ME'AHY A -7-57 NEW Nov;16, 1954 J M A Y 2,694,474-

' MOBILE SPAR YARDER Filed Jan. 2, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 J. M.- MEANY A TrzjFz/vix United States Patent MOBILE SPAR YARDER James M. Meany, Portland, Oreg. Application January 2, 1951, Serial No. 203,905 2 Claims. (Cl. 18911) This invention relates generally to logging equipment and particularly to a mobile spar yarder.

The main object of this invention is to provide a portable spar and handling mechanism therefor.

The second object is to produce a spar which is easily transported and erected and which when erected will permit the revolving of the rigging through 360 degrees.

The third object is to construct a spar through which the guy lines are passed through the interior of the spar to increase the rotating range of the spar with relation to the anchor and guy lines.

I accomplish these and other objects in the manner set forth in the following specification as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a general view in perspective.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section through the base of the spar and the supporting vehicle.

Fig. 3 is a section taken along the line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating the method of transportation and in dotted lines the position of the purchase frame and cable at the first part of the raising operation.

Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating the spar in a partially raised position and indicating how the guy lines, main line and haul-back line can all be attached to the spar while in a lowered position.

Fig. 6 is a broken vertical section through the spar illustrating the construction thereof.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the sheave ing ring as viewed from below.

Fig. 8 is a section taken along the line 8-8 in Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a plan of the guy line tightening drums, showing the spar in transverse section.

Fig. 10 is a vertical section taken along the line 1010 in Fig. 9, but showing the spar lowered to the towing position as shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 11 is an elevation taken along the line 11--11 in Fig. 9 and showing the tracks, track frame, and cab platform in a preferred form of the device.

Like numbers of reference refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring in detail to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. 2 a vehicle comprising crawler track laying elements whose side channels 21 support a central frame 22 having a circular track 23 within which is mounted a ring gear 24 which is secured to the frame 22 by bolts 25. A turret base 26 is supported on the track 23 by the anti-friction rollers 27. A keeper ring 28 secured to the underside of the base 26 engages the under side of the track 23 and holds the turret base 26 down upon the frame 22 while permitting the relative rotation of the parts 22 and 26. A tubular post 29 is formed on the frame 22 and extends upwardly through the opening 30 in the turret base 26. A pinion 31, which meshes with the ring gear 24, is mounted on the drive shaft 32 driven from a motor (not shown).

The mechanism described thus far is conventional. A preferred form is shown in Fig. 11, which will be described later.

The turret base 26 has anchor rings 33 to which are attached the lines 34 which are attached to the anchor stumps 35.

In the post 29 is mounted the shank 36 on the upper end of which is a forked head 37. To the head 37 is hinged the spar foot 38 by means of a pin 39. A cab 40 is mounted on the base 26. Also mounted on the base 26 is a housing 41 within which are the motors and cable winding drums.

block carry- 99 through a friction clutch ice On the top of the housing; 41 which is hinged to the lugs 43' thereto the blocks 44 and also, which it is anchored to a. stump the downward movement of the frame 42. Fair leading sheaves 48 and 49 are mounted on the housing 41.

At the upper end of the spar 50 are: mounted: the sheave block carrying rings 51 which are made in halves and clamped on the upper end of the spar 50 by means of the bolts 52. Clevises: 53 are attached. to the radial ribs 54 by means of the pins 55. To the upper clevis. 53 is attached the main line block 56 and tothe lower clevis 53 is attached a haul-back line block 57.

From a cable winding mechanism (not shown) within the housing 41 extends the main line 58 which passes over the sheave in the block 56 to another spar.

From the same cable winding mechanism within the housing 41 extends a haul-back line 59 which passes through the block 57 to a carriage or other contrivance.

From the same cable winding mechanism within the housing 41 extend the spar operating lines 60 which pass around the sheaves 48 and 49 and through the blocks 44 to a point of fastening at the lower ring 51-A.

On the spar 50 is mounted a motor platform 61, on which are mounted the four motor driven cable winding drums, 62, 63, 64, and 65 whose lines 66, 67, 68 and 69 pass under the sheaves 70 extending through slots 71 in the foot 38 of the spar 50 and then upwardly and outwardly over the sheaves 72 at the upper end of the spar 50 and then through the block 73 and then fastening to the cap 74. Each block 73 is attached to a guy line 75 which in turn is anchored to a stump 76.

For transportation and maneuvering purposes there is provided a steerable two-wheel trailer unit 77 having a steering wheel 78 and cradles 79 to receive the upper end of the spar 50. Clamping bands or chains 80 hold the spar within the cradles 79.

In Fig. 11 is shown the preferred construction, in which a conical spar base 81 is mounted directly upon the frame 82 of the crawler elements 83. Integral with the frame 82 is a circular track 84 upon which is mounted the turntable 85, through whose central opening 86 the spar base 81 projects upwardly above the top of the housing 87.

In this form of the device, the spar foot 88 is provided with a slot 89 which receives the fiat axle 90 to which it is tiltably secured by the pin 91. Sheaves 92 are mounted on opposite sides of the axle 90 to carry the lines 66, 67, 68 and 69 to the separate cable winding drums 93, 94, 95 and 96, shown in Fig. 9, in which each drum is driven by a gear 97 from a drive pinion 98. Pawls 100 are used to lock the gears 97 in desired positions.

Each drum 93 to a purchase. frame 42 andv which has attached a. line 45. by means of 46.v Standards 47 limit 96 is driven from the power shaft 101 which is applied by means of a lever 102.

It will be observed in Fig. 10 that the spar 50 can swing on the axle 90 and normally thereto on the pin 91 which enables the spar 50 to adapt itself to curves and changes in slope during transportation and, at the same time, enables the lines 66 to 69 to move about the bending point at the foot of the spar 50.

In the operation of the device, the unit is towed to the point where the spar is to be erected. The spar operating lines 60 are then hauled in by their respective drums which causes the purchase frame 42 to be raised to the position shown in dotted lines as shown in Fig. 4, elevating the blocks 44 to positions which give a better lifting action to the lines 60. As the spar 50 is raised it is placed under control of the guy lines 75. The vehicle itself has, of course, been anchored by the lines 34 and by the blocks 103. The main line 58 is then strung and the haul-back line 59 put into operating position. Relative tension on the guy lines 75 can be controlled to a nicety by the separate winding drums 6265. A tremendous advantage is gained with this construction in providing a portable yet firm foundation for the foot of the spar 50 and, at the same time, making it possible to easily change the setting without lowering the spar or guy lines and with a minimum amount of labor, making it extremely mobile and capable of being easily handled over difficult terrain.

I claim:

1. A mobile spar yarder having in combination a vehicle, means for fixing the position of the vehicle on the ground, an elevated hollow spar base mounted on said vehicle, a turntable on said vehicle revolvable around said spar base, a universal joint at the top of said spar base, a hollow spar attached to said base by means of said universal joint, cable winding drums within said spar base, lines on said drums passing upwardly within said spar and emerging near the upper end thereof, thence passing around a block and anchoring to said upper end of said spar and a guy line attached to said block and to a point of anchorage, a purchase frame mounted on said turntable having sheaves mounted there- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,008,785 De Vou July 23, 1935 2,224,901 Cunningham Dec. 17, 1940 2,344,390 Cohen Mar. 14, 1944 2,582,548 Larson l Jan. 15, 1952 I 

